Robert Bailey, Freelance Writer

The Jamaica Defence Force's Damion Brown (right) kicks the ball as Police National's Michael Cohen collides with him during the Jamaica National/KSAFA Super League match on Saturday at Up Park Camp. The JDF won 2-1. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Police National were left ruing missed opportunities. And Meadhaven gleefully accepted that chance to narrow the gap on the one-time runaway league leaders in the Jamaica National (JN)/Kingston and St. Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) Super League.

Only last week, Meadhaven coach Alrick Clarke named his target - overtake Police National, who led then by seven points.

POLICE lead cut

Now, they have cut Police's lead to four points, this after their 2-0 victory over Greenwich Town at the Maverley Complex on Saturday.

Meadhaven are now on 29 points, behind Police National (33) who suffered their second loss of the season, when they were beaten 2-1 by the Jamaica Defence Force (27) at Up Park Camp.

It's a defeat that coach Calvin Lewis found hard to accept.

"This is a very tough loss," Lewis said. "In the first half we had control over the game, created about three chances in the period and it's the cruelty of the game, if you don't take your chances you will pay the penalty in the end and that was what happened to us today."

The first half was evenly contested with both teams missing clear scoring opportunities.

Nicardo Williams, Fidel Anderson and André Reid all were guilty of missing easy chances for Police National, while the JDF's best scoring chance fell to Robert Wright, who shot against the crossbar from close range.

Two minutes into the second half the JDF took the lead when Michael Ramsey headed home a cross from Mario Gordon past goalkeeper Kirk Williams.

André Redwood doubled the JDF's lead 10 minutes later when he fired home from point-blank range past Williams.

Substitute Orville Smalling pulled one back for Police National in the dying moments of the game with a spectacular 25-yard shot which went like a rocket past custodian Patrick McCalla, who was well beaten at his near post.

Owen Nelson, coach of the JDF, said he was pleased with his team's performance.

"I am very happy for the victory," said Nelson. "Over the past three to four weeks we have been working hard on how we are going to change our approach to the game in the latter part of the season."

Nelson added: "I think we are playing a more touch game now which definitely is working out for us. I think that we can still catch the leaders, providing that the guys play according to plan and once they keep the spirit that they have now, I think we can definitely put up a good contest."

In other games, Santos (23) defeated Bull Bay (18) 2-1, Cavalier (18) edged bottom place Barbican (7) 1-0, Mountain View (17) played to 1-1 draw with Duhaney Park (18) and Constant Spring (17) played to a 0-0 draw with Maverley-Hughenden (13).